Stuffing box for liquid meters



May 10, 1955 E. F. BAERENRODT 2,708,127

STUFFING BOX FOR LIQUID METERS Filed May 1 8, 1955 2 EUGENE F. BAERENRODT IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent STUFFING BOX FOR LIQUID METERS Eugene F. Baerenrodt, West Orange, N. 1., assignor to Worthington Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,808

2 Claims. (Cl. 286-334) This invention relates to liquid meters of the disc type wherein a wobble disc which is actuated by liquid flowing through the meter actuates, through suitable transmission means a spindle which in turn operates the registering mechanism of the meter.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient, inexpensive packing for the spindle which prevents leakage of liquid about the spindle into the registering mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a stuffing box for liquid meters of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view through a liquid meter showing the improved stufling box structure applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the stufiing box.

Figure 4 is a side view of the packing element when not in operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the register box 1 of the liquid meter has a stufling box abutment 2 formed thereon axially thereof which is externally threaded and has its outer or upper end dished or cut at an incline, inclining inwardly towards the axis of the abutment as shown at 3. The abutment 2 and the portion of the register cup on which it is formed is provided with a spindle receiving bore 4 which opens out through the bottom of the register cup to and through the top of the abutment 2. The registering mechanism (not shown) operating spindle 5 is rotatably mounted in the opening or bore 4 and projects downwardly out of the register cup 1 having a driving arm 6 mounted on its lower end which cooperates with the driving mechanism (not shown) of the meter. The spindle 5 projects out of the abutment 2 at the top thereof for operating connection with the registering mechanism (not shown). A thrust bushing 7 is mounted about the spindle 5 just upwardly of its connection with the driving arm 6. This thrust bushing 7 is such that it will permit limited leakage of liquid from the interior of the meter into the bore 4 about the spindle 5 for lubricating the spindle.

It is desirable, however, to prevent any of the liquid from leaking into the register cup and to prevent such leakage a stufling box construction is provided.

The stuffing box construction includes a packing 10 Cir 2 which is deformable, being made of pliable rubber preferably or other suitable resilient material. The packing 10 comprises a cylindrical portion or sleeve 11 which has an annular flange 12 formed on its inner end and extending outwardly therefrom. The bore of the sleeve 11 is such as to normally fit snugly about the spindle 5 and the packing 10 is mounted about the spindle with the undersurface of its flange 12 engaging the dished surface 3 of the abutment 2. A stufling box follower 13 which is in the form of a ring and is preferably made of hard rubber is employed. The follower 13 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 11 of the packing 10 and its inner end is flat for engagement with the outer surface of the flange 12. The follower 13 has its inner end countersunk or cut away as shown at 14 so as to prevent obstructing engagement of this part of the follower with the packing.

A stufling box nut 15 is provided which is recessed having the inner surface of its depending flange 16 threaded for threading on the abutment 2 while the head 17 of the nut is provided with an opening through which the spindle 5 extends.

In operation, the nut 15 is threaded on the abutment 2 causing the follower 13 to deform the deformable resilient packing 10 to conform to the shape of the dished surface 3 and in so doing the lower inner portion of the sleeve 11 is expanded so as to provide a tapering space within the sleeve about the spindle. This deformation or distortion of the packing 10 causes the upper or outer portion of the sleeve to snugly and tightly embrace the spindle to form a fluid tight seal therewith without interfering with the rotation of the spindle.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water meter, the combination with the register cup and register operating spindle, of a threaded spindle carrying stuffing box abutment carried by said register cup, said abutment having its upper surface dished, a resilient deformable packing element mounted on said abutment comprising an axial sleeve encircling said spindle and a flange formed on the end of said sleeve adjacent the dished surface, a cylindrical non-resilient follower having a bore the inner diameter of which is greater than the outer diameter of said sleeve, the inner end of the follower being countersunk forming a shoulder thereon to engage the outer portion of said flange, a threaded element consisting of a stufiing box nut threaded on said abutment having an inner recess to receive said packing element and follower, said threaded element contacting the outer face of said follower forcing said shoulder against said flange whereby said flange is forced into contact with said dished surface and said sleeve is expanded to form a tapered space within the sleeve around the spindle.

2. In a water meter, the combination with the register cup and register operating spindle, of a threaded spindle carrying stufiing box abutment carried by said register cup, said abutment having its upper surface dished, a resilient deformable packing element mounted on said abutment comprising an axial sleeve encircling said spindle and a flange formed on the end of said sleeve adjacent the dished surface, a cylindrical nonresilient follower having a bore the inner diameter of Patented May 10, 195.5

which is greater than the outer diameter of said sleeve, the inner end of the follower being countersunk forming a shoulder thereon to engage the outer portion of said flange inwardly of the outer circumference of said flange, a threaded element consisting of a stufiing box nut threaded on said abutment having an inner recess to receive said packing element and follower, said threaded element contacting the outer face of said follower forcing said shoulder against said flange whereby said flange is forced into contact with said dished surface and said sleeve is expanded to form a tapered space within the sleeve around the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

